Good bye USA - hello Sweden! We're back home. Happy for getting back to our family and old friends but equally sad to leave some great friends behind. Excited to get back on track with our old school and work, but a bit nervous about getting back to the hectic life with cronical shortage of time. I might have been bored at times in Ohio, but as expected, you realize how good you had it first after you don't have it anymore. As it comes to the weather; we moved from gray to gray, so there's not much more to say about that.

We're settling slowly but surely. Out first shipping with winter clothing, computer and Benkes bicycle came 2 weeks ago, and the major shipping with Ratatouille, John Deere, Klippan sofas and Billy book cases is due this Friday. We're desperately trying to find an empty spot for all this junk! I already sold some of our old furniture and Benke has made a miracle in the basement getting rid of most of what's been in there for years. We hope to get started with the construction of a new extention to our house some time next month. There's tons of paper work and planning to do first, and we're in the middle of it right now.

I'm having some difficulties adjusting to seriously limited time for exercise. No more long walks or runs in the middle of the day with Maja in the stroller. No more morning classes at the gym. Benke, on the other hand, has a better chance of biking now since it's so easy to mountain bike here and we live right next to a national park. Jonte has started at karate, he loves it! Johanna plays soccer with her old team. Both the big kids continue with the Scouts. Maja goes to daycare, she seems to like it and the bugs seem to like her: she's been having both a cold and a stomach flu since she started 2 weeks ago.

We've had some visitors from Finland already; Mom was here to help us getting setteled. Thank you for that! Dad turned 70 Jan. 19; congratulations! Also, congrats to Minna on your birthday Jan.17 and Camilla Jan. 19! Kati, Sampo and their friends Mia&Artturi came to see us last weekend. Suski with her family will be here this weekend. Busy time, but fun!

//Hanna

Merry Christmas 2008

Santa Conny is visiting us before he takes his reindeer all the way to Sweden!

Today it is the fourth advent. No snow in Cincinnati, but -13 C (wind chill -25 C). In Scandinavia there is a tradition to light a candle for each advent, and in our family we have one more advent tradition: a Christmas carrol sung by each family member, starting from the youngest. Jonatan sang "En sockerbagare", Johanna "Frosty The Snowman", I did "Soihdut sammuu" and Benke "Nu är det jul igen". Maja sang a little bit of everything and danced to all songs.

During this past week we've said so many goodbyes that I've lost the count. last day of school, last soccer game, last training session with Mojo Runners, last, last, last. It's been very hard on everyone. The movers were here and the shipping was sent to Europe. I've been telling people we're practically but not mentally ready to move. However, since about two days we've all felt that we're getting there also emotionally; so, old friends and family, we are good to go and practically on our way!


Half of Julie's 24 cupcakes. Given to me after a hard workout at the gym.

So, a very merry Christmas to all of you around the world from all of us in the empty house in Ohio!




//Hanna

Kids' goodbyes

Johanna and Jonatan had a Going Away Party for their friends on Lucia Night, Dec. 13. Monster Mini Golf was the spooky spot, glowy ghosts and sceletons combined with a round mini golf and tons of other games. Pizza, brownies, cheese curls and soda gave the boost. The kids had a blast, thanks for coming, everyone!

Too many goodbyes to handle

We're getting into a bad and sad period. Leaving our best friends behind is just a miserable, cruel and painful experience. We're trying hard to be happy for what's been and not to be depressed by the fact it's over. We have never had, and probably will never have, as great neighbors as you, the families Aymone Azevedo and Brecht. Have a wonderful Christmas in Brazil and Florida!








Until we meet again.

//Hanna, Benke, Johanna, Jonte and Maja

Thanksgiving 2008

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at Jonte's school also. The 2nd graders had a very impressive concert making beautiful music with simple methods. I was not able to run my annual Thanksgiving Day Race downtown because of a bad cold. Getting old I guess. In the evening we got together with our neighbors again. Great food, great people.

//Hanna

The West Chester Navy Flash 3rd in State

Johanna's soccer team made it all the way to the State Tournament again, and this time with brilliance. The Navy Flash took the 3rd place after having played 6 games in 3 days. Worth every minute of freezing winds, rain and snow - even today's runny nose and sore throat! Snow, Sommer, Andrea and Ethan came to cheer the girls with us.

Congratulations Johanna!

Greetings from Las Vegas & The Grand Canyon!

We've been out West. It was dry, dusty, sandy, warm days and cool nights, cactuses, palm trees. There were signs of snakes, scorpions, old pioneer routes. Ghost towns, guns for sale, buffalo.. yeah, The Wild West! Cars, trucks, our RV and Route 66! The majestetic Grand Canyon took our breaths and we soon realized it was impossible to catch the true feeling of it on a photograph. But we sure tried, see below. And in the middle of it was this crazy, schitzophrene town called Las Vegas. There's nothing like Vegas and it can only happen in America. Completely insane, but yet fricking awesome, simply great fun! It is not a town for kids, but having spent the Halloween night there we could make the best of it anyway. Observe: we spent ZERO dollars on gambling. By the way, did you know most casinos pump oxygen, usually blended with perfume, in the inside air to keep players awake the whole night?!

We've collected some pictures in our Webalbum, feel free to check them out! http://picasaweb.google.com/Sandelowskyalbum

//Hanna